Some British nationals stranded in the Middle East are expected to be flown back to the UK later today as widespread flight disruptions continue following missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.
A UK-chartered aircraft is scheduled to depart Muscat International Airport in Oman at 23:00 local time (19:00 GMT). According to the UK government, seats will be prioritised for the most vulnerable passengers, including families with children and those with urgent needs.
The repatriation effort comes after escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran triggered extensive airspace closures across the region over the weekend. The situation has led to major disruption to commercial aviation, grounding thousands of flights and leaving travellers unable to leave several Gulf countries.
Officials say more than 130,000 British nationals have registered their interest in receiving assistance to leave the region since fighting began on Saturday.
Major aviation disruption across the Gulf
The Middle East is a key hub for global air travel, with some of the world’s busiest transit airports located in the Gulf. Restrictions across multiple countries have therefore had widespread effects on international routes.
Airspace remains heavily restricted or closed over parts of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, severely limiting commercial flights.
The disruption has been described by British officials as the largest to affect international travel since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Many British travellers and expatriates currently based in the United Arab Emirates have travelled to Oman in the hope of securing seats on repatriation flights. The journey from Dubai to Muscat is approximately 280 miles by road.
However, demand is expected to exceed the capacity of the single chartered aircraft scheduled for Wednesday night.
Government response
The UK Foreign Office said British nationals, along with their spouses or partners and children under 18, may be invited to board the Muscat flight.
It added that officials are continuing to work with airlines to establish additional routes for people seeking to return to the UK.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told MPs on Tuesday that the government considered the safety of British nationals in the region a “top priority”, and indicated that Oman would likely serve as the first departure point for evacuation flights.
British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Palestine, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also registered their presence with UK authorities.
The Foreign Office has also updated travel guidance, advising against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
Airlines suspend services
Commercial airlines across the Gulf have either suspended flights or significantly reduced operations due to the security situation.
Emirates has halted all commercial passenger flights to and from Dubai on Wednesday, although a small number of repatriation and cargo flights are continuing. Passengers who have not been contacted by the airline have been advised not to travel to the airport.
Etihad Airways has suspended flights to and from Abu Dhabi until at least 14:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Thursday.
Qatar Airways said operations will remain paused until the country’s aviation authority confirms that airspace can safely reopen. The airline has indicated that passengers will receive further updates on Friday morning.
British Airways has also cancelled flights from several regional cities including Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv. However, the airline plans to operate a service from Muscat to London early on Thursday morning.
Wider security measures
Alongside repatriation efforts, the UK government say it is taking steps to strengthen its military presence in the region.
The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon is expected to be deployed to the eastern Mediterranean to help protect the UK’s military base at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The move follows an Iranian drone strike on the base earlier in the conflict.
Officials have not yet confirmed when the vessel will depart from Portsmouth.
For now, many British travellers remain stranded across the region while governments and airlines attempt to reopen safe routes amid continuing security concerns.
